Sheet-printing press



M. A. DROITCOUR SHEET PRINT-ING PRESS April l0, 1928. v

April 1o, 1928.

M. A. DROITCOUR SHEET PRINTING PRESS 46 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.

April 10, 1928.

M; A. DRol-rcouR SHEET PRINTING PRESS e sheets-sheet s Filed Aug'. 29.1923 April 1o, 19526. y 1,666,664

M.` A. DRorrcouR SHEET PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug- 29, 1925 6 sheets-sheet4 46C ma April 1o, 1928.

M. A. DROITCOUR SHEET PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 29.. 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet5 April 1o, 192s.

M. A. DROITCOUR SHEET PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug- 29. 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet6 Fig. 16.

Patented Apr. 10, 1928. l

UNITED Y' STATES l 1,666,604 PATENT OFFICE MIC'HAEL ANDREW DROITCOUR, 0FPRVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

SHEET-PRINTING rnnss.

Application led August 29, 1923. Serial No. 659,937.

This invention is a novel improvement in sheet printmg presses, and hasparticular reference to the various means'for advancing the sheet fromthe feed table through the press to the delivery table. n The objects ofthe invention are; to have the delivery table and the feed table at thesameend of the press, and the delivery table preferably below the feedtable; so 'that both will be conveniently'under the observation of thepressman; to provide novel means for the sheettaking position on thefeed board to thelimpression cylinder so that the sheets may bedelivered directly from the impression cylinder, printed side up towardthe Adelivery'table at -the feed end of the press; to provide Anovelmeans for forwardino' the printed sheets from the impression cylindertothe deliverytable; toprovide a transfer cylinder bet-Ween the feedboard and the delivery board to enable the sheet to be delivered withoutlhaving its printed side touched; lto provide pneumatic means forholding the sheet ona cylinder after the cylinder grippers have releasedthe sheet; to

rovide means whereby grippers on the vcylmders can be arranged inalignment and posts in the cylindersto co-operate with the lgripper'sdispensed with; to separate the top A sheet from the feed pile withoutthe necessity. of using drop rollers closing tapes, or like mechanicaldevices such as are now cornmonly employed in. separating sheets andfeeding them from the pilel to the feed board; to provide the feed boardand parts thereon so that same may be raised when it isdesired to getaccess to the underlying parts of the press; to provide novel means fortiming the suction action of the sheet ad* vancing means on the feedboard, so that thesheet. will be properly handled; to employ the feedtapes las part of thev suction 'channels by which the sheets areadvanced Vover the feed and lalso delivery if desired.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawingsto enable others to adopt and use same, and set forth inthe claims theessentials of the invention, and the novel features of construction, andnovel combinations of parts, for all of which protection is desired.

' Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of a sheet printing press equippedwith my novel sheet handling mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalview on the line 3- 3`, Fig. 1.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatical view illustrating the operationof the devices for transferring the sheets from the pile to the feedboard. i

Figs. 5A and 6 are enlarged side and end views of one of the'sheetregistering boxes. Figs 7 and 8 are detail sectional views of` one ofthe suction valves.

,Fig 9 is a detail sectional View of the y transfer and impression`cylinders showing the suction .sheet holding devices of thev transfercylinder.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the pile feed controlling devices. y p Fig.11 is a detail sectional view illustrating the air suction passageformed by the feed board and sheet feed tapes.

Fig. 12 is a reduced side elevation of the press looking at the sideoppositeA to Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a detail end elevation, partly broken of the device foroperating the fee ing pile, and the sheet delivery pile.

Fig. 14 i's a detail view of means of operating one of the air valves.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the suction valvesA vforthe feed board.

Fi s. 16,17, 18 are'detail views illustrating t e means for flufling thesheets on the feed pile. Y v

Fig. 19 is adetail top plan view of a feed board with adjustable sets oftapes.

Figs. 20, 21, 22 are detail views of the feed pile controlling devices.

In the accompanying drawings the invexition as shown is'applied 'to aflat bed and cylinder press preferably of the type inwhich the cylindermakes two revolutions fefi each reciprocation of the bed, but isadaptable to other types of presses.

As shown the impression cylinder 100 is driven by a. gear 101 which isdriven by intermediate 102 from a gear 103 on the driving ily wheelshaft 104; and gear 105 on intermediate 102 meshes with a gear 106 on aA shaft 107 which makes three revolutions in unison with the cylinderfor each reciprocaiion of the bed.

On the shaft 107 is a beveled gear 108 which meshes with a beveled gear109 on a counter shaft 110 that extends toward the feed end of the pressand carries a beveled gear 111 which meshes with a beveled gear 112 on avertical shaft 113 carrying a beveled gear 114 which meshes with abeveled gear 115 on a short stub shaft 116 suit-- ably mounted in thefeeder framing; and on the inner end of this shaft 116 is a sprocket117. Mounted on the frame above the sprocket 117 is a similar sprocket217 mounted on a stub shaft 216; over sprockets 117 and 217 runs asprocket chain 1 which chain is continuously driven by the meansdescribed in unison with the movement of the impression cylinder. Thechain 1 may be provided with an adjustable slack taking up or tensioningmeans, such as indicated at 1n in the drawings, to maintain propertension thereon.

The chain v1 carries a pin l" which is adapted to engage with any one ofthe slotted yokcs 2" attached to an endless cha-in 2 which runs overupper and lower sprockets 2 and` 2 mounted on stud shafts 2d and 2fattached to suitable framing mounted on the press.

The sprocket 2 is attached to a pinion 2g which meshes with a pinion 3on a stud shaft 3, and the pinion 3 is connected to a stud pinion 3l`which meshes with pinion 4a on the end of a shaft or tape roller 4 whichis journaled in suitable bearings in the frame adjacent the outer end ofthe feed board 5, the outer end of which feed board is provided withhinge yokes 5a, by which the feed board is pivotally supported onpintles 5" on the main frame so that the feed board can be raised; theinner end of the feed board when lowered is supported on brackets 5L onthe framing adjacent the transfer cylinder. This feed board ishereinafter referred to.

`brackets attached to the framing; the lower end of each ofthe rods 69is provided with framing, and on one en a spiral gear 68 meshing with aspiral gear 67'on a shaft 63 suitabl journaled in the of this shaft is aratchet 64, adapted to be engaged by a pawl on an oscillatory arm 62,pivotally mounted on the shaft 63, and one end of said arm 62 is pivotedto a link bar 61, the other end of which link bar has a vertical slot61a engaging a pin ,22 on the face of a crank 22 which is mounted on ashaft 21 adjacent the sprocket gear 217, and is driven from the sprocketgear 217 by means of a inion l23 fastened on sprocket 217 meshing with apinion 23*l on shaft 21.

Pinion 23 rotates continuously during the operation of the machine, andconsequently would tend to impart oscillatory movement to the pawl 65 atall times, but to prevent this oscillation, except at the proper time, Iprovide a trip lever 77 which is pivoted on a stud 77L adjacent the pawl65 and normally depends in position to engage the arm G2 when in itsdepressed condition and to hold it in this position so that the rod 61is held elevated and the pin 22 works idly in a slot in the link 61.Ifthe trip is disengaged from the pawl 62 then the Ylink 61 drops andcauses the arm 62 vto oscillate and the paw-l 65 to raise and the pin22a engaging the upper end of the slot in the link 61 will draw the linkforward and thus depress the pawl and impart motion to the shaft 63through the ratchet 64.

The engagement of the pawl is determined by the height of the pile ofpaper on the table and a detector (described separate)..

As shown the short arm of the trip leverv 77 is engaged by a rod 76 theupper end of which is attached to an arm on a rock shaft 74 to which isattached an arm 71" which carries a feeler plate 71 adapted to rest uponthe top of the pile of'paper on the table 70. On this shaft 74 issplined a block 74" carrying two projecting pins 74 which y are engagedby a pin'71 on theshaft 71 which is pivotally mounted at `one end on ablock 82 which is fastened to the tube 81 adjacent the shaft 74. Theother end of the shaft 71 is pivoted on the block 81 also hung from thesleeve 81. The block 82 is bifureated at its lower end to looselyembrace the block 74" on shaft 74 and this ermits the block 81 and shaft71 to be adjusted with the sleeve 81 to stand various sizes of sheets ofpaper in the' pile and the shaft 74 is turned to adjust the plate 70 ofthe feeder. When 'the pile of paper is at the proper height the plate 71will be elevated sufficiently to hold Yrock shaft 71 so that the arm 71aengaging pins 74 will hold shaft 74 in such position that rod 76 will beelevated permitting the trip 77 to engage the arm 62 and hold the pawl65 inactive. But as the pile is lowered by the feeding of the sheetsplate 71 lowers and permits shaft 71 to turn and permit the loweringofrod 76 until it disengages the trip 77 from the ratchet; whereupon thelever 62 is oscillated by the means described and imparts rotary motionto the shaft63; which in turn causes the screws 69 to elevate to thetable 70 until the top of the pile is raised sufficiently to cause plate71, through the described connections, to raise rod 76 and The sheetsare fed from the pile onto the table 5 as hereinafter described. In theconv struction shown a receiving or delivery table 7 0x is arranged atthe end of the press directly below the feed table 70. For every. sheetfed from the top table 70, av sheet Will be deposited upon the pile onthe delivery table 7 0x. At the beginning of the operations when tableis in its lowest position the table 7 0x Would be in its highestposition. The table 70x is constructed. and operated substantially' likethe table 70 but is preferably inclined as shown, so that the sheets canslide readily thereonto; as shown table 70X is provided with a bar 70axhaving its ends threaded to engage threaded rods 69x which are suitablyjournaled in the frame.; and these rods 69x have spiral gears 68x ontheir upper ends meshing with spiral gears 67x on the shaft 63", (Fig.3) and shaft 63x has a gear 66x meshing with thegear 66 -on the shaft63. The construction is such that each time the table 70 is elevated (orlowered) the table 70x will be lowered (or elevated) a correspondingextent; and the elevating and lowering of both tables 70 and 70l isgoverned by the above described trip mechanism, by which the operationof the shaft G3 is controlled as above described.

The sheets are fed successively from the pile on table 70 lonto the feedboard, by means hereinafter described, and are carried down the feedboard and registered both longitudinally and laterally against the sheetstops by means'hereinafter described.

It will be seen that the unprinted sheets vare fed from the pile mountedon the feed table at the samel end of the press when the sheets aredelivered; and the sheets are de'- livered 'on the receiving tablearranged beneath the feeder table. This vproduces a very compact pressand enables the operator ,to easily control the feed and the delivery atthe same end of the press, andv this is a great practical advantageparticularly on presses of the smaller size. A v

The sheet stops or front guides 40S in the press shown co-operate with atransfer cylinder 99 which is practically the same size of theimpression cylinder 100 and is suitably journaled above the samel and isprovidn with grippers 99" which operate in the usual manner and areadapted totake a sheet from the feed board and transfer it to thegrippers 1(4)0b of the impression cylinder in the usual manner. Afterthe sheet `has vbeen printed itv is released by the cylinder grippersand stripped from the impression cylinder by strippers 130 attached to arock shaft 131 supplied with an arm 132 which is pivoted to a link 133which is op'eratedlin the proper time by a cam 38 on a stud shaft 34 andwhich shaft is provided with a gear- 34l meshing with a pinion 99 ontheshaft 99"v of the transfer cylinder .99, the gearing being soproportionedthat the'strip ers 130.

will be moved in' andl out and hel l,in and i out of'operative positionat the proper time during the rotation of the press. The pri-nt'- edsheet is directed by the strippers 130 onto a set of delivery tapes 140running overguide rollers 141 and 142 suitably mounted in the machine;the 'sheets passing over the i I roller 142 onto the delivery pile ontable 76. as indicated in the drawing.

The means for feeding the sheets'.

11 mounted on arm 12 attached to a hollow' shaft 13 which is in turnattached to links i 14 pivoted or 'suitably connected to arms 15 mountedon a rock shaft 25 Which is suitablyl journaled in suitable framing'onthe.

press above the feed table.

To one of the links 14 is attached an arm 16 which is slidably supportedon apin 17 attached to the free end of a lifting lever 17 which ispivoted on a stud 18, attached to a suitable part of the framing, seeFigs. Y

2 and 4; link 17 is pivotally connected at 17 b to one end of a link 19,the other end of which is bifurcated or slotted to embrace the shaft21.and be guided thereby and link 19 is actuated by a cam 20 attached tothe shaft 21, see Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 4 the suction boxes 11 may be of any-suitableconstruction and are connected by hose section 11B to the pipe 13;

and said pipe 13 may be. connected to a suction apparatus of anysuitable kind, not shown, by Which suction isproduced in the pipe and inthe boxes 11.

The shaft 25 has an arm 26 on one end connected to one end of a link 27which is l'lO operatively engaged by a cam disk 28 on a shaft 21journaledin the framingand .having a gear 23a on its inner end meshinwith a pinion 23 on the shaft 216 (see Figs. 2v and 4). The cam 28 isoperated insuch time and manner that when a sheet is to.,

be fed fromthe pile to the feed board the suction boxes 11 are firstraised from the position shown in full lines in Fig.. 4, to the positionindicated in dotted lines :I: in Fig. 4 by the action of the cam 2 0link 19 and arm 17; then, While the link 17 is held in this raisedposition, the cam 28 through link 27 and arm 26 rocks shaft 25 and movesthe elevated suction boxes 11 from the position shown in dotted lines(Fig. 4) to the position shown in dotted lines y in (Fig. 4). Then afterthe sheet has been in height; and each sheet will be lifted in astraight curved line and will have a natural curve, according to its owntension or spring, and will be passed to the feed board .with almost thesame movement used in manually handling the sheet; the boxes ,moving asdescribed impar-til yg a wave or winding motion to the sheet so 1s toget air under the whole sheet as is done in hand feeding, thusfacilitating the separation of thc top sheet from the pile. Y

In order to facilitate the removal of the top sheet from the pile Iprovide means for flufiing the top sheets by air. For this purpose aplurality of air jet heads 300 are arranged adjacent the top of the ile,below and between the shaft 4 and tlie top of the pile S (see vFigs 16,17, 18) and are connected by liexible sections 301 to air pipe 302 whichlcan be connected by a hose 303 to'an air blower not shown. have slits304 in their sides adjacent the u per end of the pile through which jetsof) air are directed against the adjacent edges of the top sheets tocause the top sheet in the pile to fluff up, so that when the top sheetis lifted by means of the suction boxes 11, as above described, itisimmediately seperated from the vother sheets by the air blown betweenthe sheets, which prevents the raising` of more than one sheet at a timefrom the pileby the suction boxes.

y the. suction boxes 1.1 so that the forward edge of the sheet liesbeyond the roller 4b and lies Jupon the sets of t-apes T; which tapes.extend from roller 4" at. the outer end of the feed board to and overrollers 4e suitably mounted at the adjacent end of the feed board asindicated so the upper runs of the tapes T lie upon and close to theupper surface 0f the feed board, or in slight recesses in the feed boardif desired, while the return run of the tapes pass back under the feedboard. i n

As shown these tapes T are arranged in pairs, two pairs being shown; thetapes in each pair being parallel and near together the slight spacebetween adjacentedges of thc tapes in each pair forming an air suctionchannel (see Fig. 11) whichv is normally open but is closed by the sheetlying on the tapes, and I have found that when a` sheet is laid uponthese tapes and a suction is created in the space between the tapes andoverlying sheet, the sheet will be held to the These heads l .a valve4041.

tapes and caused to travel therewith by .the suction. 'i

To facilitate the advance of the sheet on the table the suction iscreated progressively along the length ofthe spaces between the pairs oftapes between'the rollers 4b and 4, by means of suitable suctionopenings indicated at 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, in Fig. 2; which openingsare respectively connected by pipes 211, 212, 213, 214, 215 to suctionvalves 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, respectively; and said suction valvesare all connected with a common suction pipe S which is connected byahose S to the air pumpnot shown. As" indicated in Figure2the severalpipes 221 to 215 may be provided with flexible or adjustable sections211, 212, 213, 2141, 215, respectively, the free ends of which may beplugged into any one of the related series of openings 201 to 205according to the position in which the sets of belts T are adjusted. Thebelts can be adjusted laterally o n the feed table to suit differentwidths of paper; and the free ends of the sections 211a to 215a can beplugged into the proper opening between the belts of each pair.

The air valves 221 may be of any suitable construction, and I do notdeem is necessary to show all of them in detail as they all may beoperated alike. One of these valves is shown in section in Figs. 14, 15.Each of these valves preferably comprises a body 400 having an outletopening 401 to which a pipe 211 (212-3-4-5, etc.) is connected. It has abore 402 communicating with the pipe S and the outlet opening, andprovided with a valve seat 403 closed by The stem 405 of this valveprojects below the body, vand the valve is normally pressed by a spring406 on the projecting end of the valve. These valves raise and lowerwith the feed board. When the board is lowered the stem 405 of eachvalvelies above a related lever which is p ivotally mounted on a rod 501attached to an adjacent part of the framing (see Fig. 14) above the shaft21. This lever 500 is connected to the upper end of a link 502, thelower end of which is bifurcated or slotted as at 503 to embrace] theshaft '21; and on this link 502 is a roller 504 which engages a relatedcam 505 fixed to the shaft 21. vThe cams 505 are so formed andrelatively adjusted that atthe proper' times the several levers 500 willbe raised to contact with the related valve stem, and open the valvewhereupon suction will be created through the related openings in thefeed board in the manner and for the purpose described.

The pipe 13 is connected by a hose 13b to a suction box 13c on pipe S.The suction valves 13c and 211 to 215 respectively may be operated byany suitable means in the well known manner so as to be opened and4mally tends to rock the lever to closed at the proper time to receivepipes to which they are, connected or prevent the same as required. Thusthe suction' would he created in the pipe 13 just before the boxes 11are raised to lift ashcet on the feed board and suction will bemaintained in the boxes 11 until they have passed the sheet onto thefeed board at the posit-ion indicatedv in d ottcd lines y in Fig. 4 atwhich time the tapes T are stationary and when the suction boxes 11place thesheet upon the tapes as indicated Iin dotted lines a: in Fig. 4then the suction is created in the pipes 201 and this creates a suctionin. the space between the tapes T and holds the sheet thereto. Then thesuction is released from the boxes 11 and the latter raised while thesheet is held to the tapes by the suction in pipes 201, and then as thetapes begin to move the sheet down the feed board suctionr issuccessively created in the pipes 212, 213, 214, 215 until the sheet isbrought close. to position near the front sheet stops 40s. The cams maybe so arranged that as the sheet is advanced suction is createdsuccessively in the pipesand successively cut off in the pipes..

The from register.

The front register devices are preferably ings in the framing above thetransfer cylinder 99. The rod 40a is provided on its rear erd with anadjusting nut 40b and is normally projected outwardly, as far aspermitted by the nut, by means of a spring 4()c interposed between theplate 40s and the casting 40. Projecting through an opening in the stop4()s is a suction box 40d which has an aperture 4 in its under side andis movable longitudinally and at right angles to the shaft 43. V

Each suction box 40d is connected by a hose 40e to aI suction pipe 47s,journaled in the framing in rear of shaft 43, provided with a suitablesuction valve and operating connections.

The box 40d-is connected by a link 40f toone end of a lever which ispivoted at 45a on the casting 40; 'and to thisvlever, below its pivot,is pivotally connected a rod 45'uwhich passes through a guide 40g on thecasting 40,

and a spring 45d is strung on the rod 45',s between the lug 40g and thelever 45 and nordlfaw the suction box inward toward shaft 43el 1 Theother end of lever 45 is connected by a link 46 to an arm 47 on theshaft47s and on shaft 47s is an arm 31 which is pivotally connected to a link32, the other end of which is slotted to embrace the shaft v34 and beguided thereby. This lever 32 carries a shown) and suitable means areroller 32 engaging a cam 33 on the shaft connected by the suctionapparatus (not provided (not shown) whereby the valve 47 could be openedor closed at the proper time to produce suction .inthe pipe 47s andboxes 40d and relieve the suction therein at the proper time.

The parts are so arranged that as or before the leadin edge of the sheetleaves the lower end of tic feed board 5 the shaft 43 is rocked to lowerthe front stops 40s into the path of the sheet and the sheet is releasedfrom the suction on the tapes T just as or before its leaving edgereaches the stops 40. Then the valve on hollow shaft 47B is actuatedsoas to create suction in the boxes 40l and take hold of the sheet nearestthe leading edge, and then hollow shaft 4 s is rocked s0 as to oscillatelevers 45 in a direction to ermit spring 45to move the suction boxes40'l slightly rearward so that they will register the front edge of thesheet against the stop 4()s before suction is cut oft' in said boxes.

The side register.

After the sheet is properly forwarded against stops 40s it is wideregistered by means of a suction box 40, similar to the box 40d, mountedon a rod 40, similar to rod 40a, carried by a casting 40x supported ona. rod 43X detachably mounted on the end of the feed board 5. The lever45x of this device is connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 49 theother arm of which is connected by a rod 49il to an arm 49b on a hollowshaft 49c which is journaled in the frame and has a crank arm 49d on itsouterend which engages a race cam 49e on the shaft 34.

The shaft 49 is hollow and is connected by a pipe 40eX to the box 40dxand en the outer end of theshaft is an air valve box 40f (similar tovalve 47) connected to the suction apparatus (not shown) and suitable.

lmeans are provided not shown) whereby the .valve 49r may be opened orclosed at the proper time to produce suction in the box 40. i

The cams and suction boxes are so 'arranged that at the ter box 40dxwill be engaged with the sheet proper timethe side regis'-k of paper andthen be moved laterally so as I to register the sheet of paper sidewise.The

"registering movement of the box 40 is so timed as not to interfere withthe registering movement of the front registering boxes 40.'

The suction valves 47 c and 49f may be made as shown in detail Figs. 7and 8. As shown the valve body 47c is attached at one side to the end ofthe shaft 47 and has an air suction pipe 47t connected to its oppositeside opposite the end of the pipe 47". The valve member 47 is normallyheld in the position shown in Fig. 8 where it presents an imperforatesurface between the adjacent endsof pipe 47 and pipe 47K The Valvemember 47#l is pivoted on a rock shaft 47x which may be rocked by asuitable cani at the proper time so as toraise or, lower the valve 47.This valve member has a hole 47 in it and when the valve member islowered the hole 47W establishes direct communication between pipes 475and 117i, and then suction is produced in pipe 47s, and this suctioncontinues until it is cut off by valve member 471.

Upon the sheets on the feed pile yieldingly rest spring finger 8O whichare connectedto a tube or a hollow shaft 81 which is fast in boxes 82which slideon rack bars 83 mounted on the sides of the frame. These rackbars 83 are engaged by pinions 84 attached to a rod 85 which extendsthrough the' hollow shaft 81 and is providedwith a hand wheel 86 bywhich the rod 85 may be turned manually, thus the hollow shaft 81 withfingers 80 may be advanced inwardly or outwardly ac'pording to thelengths of the sheets on the 1 e. p The transfer cylinder 99 is providedwith gripper fingers 99b which may be operated to open and close in theusual manner, and the sheets are so fed that they overlap the 1 edge 99Wof the transfer cylinder, as shown in Fig. 9, when the grippers 99h areclosed thereon. A suction boX 190 is arranged inside the surface of thecylinder 99 and is provided with apertures 99X opening through the outerface of the cylinder. is connected by a pipe 191 to a bore 192 in theshaft 99b of the transfer cylinder; and this bore is connected bysuitable means with a suction pipe 193 which leads to the vacuum pump,and a suitable suction valve (not shown) is provi-ded and operated by acam (not shown) so that after the gripper-s 99b have taken the sheetfrom the feed board and before they release the sheet the suction iscreated in box 190 suficient to hold the sheet to the transfer cylinderwith its edge projecting beyond the face of the bar 99W as shown in Fig.9 giving' the impression cylinder grippers 100b room to fully engage thesheet as indicated in Fig. 9 after the grippers 99b have been opened.This does away with any interference of the grippers at the transferpoint, as the suction holds the sheet to the transfer cylinder after thegrippers' 99b are opened and suction is cut ofi' to release the sheetjust as the tngerslOOb of the impression cylinder 100 take the sheet.This does away with the necessity for posts under the grippers on othercylinders, and enables impressions to be made very close to the edge ofthe sheet.

. By holding the sheet to transfer cylinder The box 190.

by suction as above described the grippers on both cylinders 99 and 10()can be in alignment, and there will be no interference between them.This will dispense with the necessity of providing posts usuallyemployed on the cylinders for the grppers to with the grippers) if a.card say .025 thick y was being prlnted then the posts would have to belowered .022 to bring top of sheet on pitch line; obviously when a heavysheet is to be printed the packing on impression cylinder must bereduced as otherwise there would be too much impression and smash typeetc. In my press the grippers on transfer cylinder 99 open before therecan be any interference with the closing of the grippers on the imiression cylinders and when they are open t e suction holds the sheet tocylinder 99 until the grippers on the cylinder 100close on sheet.

If desired while I have described the suction tapes as used only on thefeed board suction might also be used in connection with the 'deliverytapes 140. vThese could be arranged in pairs between the rollers 141 and142 and operated as described to transfer the sheet positively from theimpression cylinder 100 to the delivery 'table 70".

In presses adapted to ,handle sheets of large size, I may provide moresets of air suction tapes. In Fig. 19 I show three sets of such tapes:One set T being at the center of the feed board, and sets of tapes /T2and T3 are arranged parallel with but on opposite sides of the centralset oftapes. All of these tapes may be driven from the shaft L1, asabove described; but the tapes T2 and T3 run over elongated rollers 40X;a plurality of parallel sets of apertures 201-2-8-4-5 etc., are providedi'n the feed board, and the sets of tapes T2 and T3 may be adjustedtoward or from the tapes T to suit the size of sheets, and thepreferably related 'sets of said apertures.

On a small press say handling sheets of 22 inches, it is not necessaryto use the adjustable tapes; but for larger presses three or more setsof tapes are preferable,l the outer tapes being movable as described, sothey can be adjusted to suit the Width of the sheets being printed.

lution shaft 107 through miter bevel gears to twenty tooth sprocket 117which operates the 60 link chain one revolution to each inrpression.'lhe ,chain l has a in which engages a yoke 2" on driven chaln 2 andopel'- ates the tapes T on feed board intermittently. 'lhe suctionpipesl under feed board are connected through valvesto vacuum pump.Valves are operated by cams on shaft which is driven one revolution toeach impression of press.

The pile of papel' to be fed is supported on board 70 and the pile' iskept at normal height by the devices controlled by the plate 71 restingon top of pile. When pile, is

reduced the trip 77 relea-s s bell crank 62 and crank pile is forced'tnormal height by the spiral gears 67-68 and screws 69.

The top sheet is engaged by the suction boxes 11 (preferably three asshown) which are swung (Fig. 4) to lift the forward end or edge ofsheet. Then the suction boxes advances`4 the sheet over (to left) andholds leading part of sheet in practical contact with upper face of feedboard over tapes T. (The tapes are not travelling at this time). Thent-he suction goes. on first set of holes 201 between each set of tapesholding sheet to tapes. Suction boxes l1 then releases sheet. Then thepin lb on power chain l engages a yoke 2l and travels tapes T and sheettoward transfer cylinder; when the pin leaves the yoke the tapes arestopped, and sheet is then in position to be registered to gauges by theregister mechanisms. The sheet is controlled in its movement toward thecylinder by progressively apply- -ing the suction as lead end of sheetgets to openings 202, 205 and closes vacuum as tail of sheet passesthese openings. By this means the vacuum is 'not lost or overlyweakened.

The sheet is then registered by action of suction boxes 40 and 40"x asdescribed.

The grippers on transfer cylinder take the sheet from the feed board(after register) and suction holds the sheet to cylinder as grippers areopened so as not to interfere at transfer point to impression cylinder.From the impression cylinder 10() the sheet is directed by strippers 13vonto the deliverv tapes 140 and by them delivered onto the deliverytables 7 0".

The feeder pile being over the delivery pile effects a saving of spaceand overcomes the long travel of sheet from .tapes with suction appliedbetween them By employing the transfer cylinder 99 to l "transfer sheetsfrom the feed board to the f impression cylinder I am enabled to deliver,the sheets printed side up without having the pile to 'cylinder\. alsofrom cylinder to delivery. The twin the sheet will be brought intocontact with f the whole face of the guide and I do not have to employposts on either side of the registering member as heretofore necessary,andthe registeringmeans can be lifted with the guide. v

The novel features of my invention are the employment of side by sidetapes with suction between them for advancing (feeding or delivering)the sheets, without hav ing to employ any co-operating devices on thetop of the sheet when advancing same. This is especially useful in thedelivery of sheets, as the top of the sheets have a freshly printedsurface and it is highly desirable that nothing shall come in contactwith the freshly printed surface. Arranging the feed pile above thedelivery pile gives the opera-y tor better control as both feed anddelivery are at same end of press. By using the transfer cylinder`before sheet is printed there will be no smutting of printed sheets oroffset caused by the freshly printed surfaces coming in contact with thetransfer surface, such as the reels used in drum cylinder presses and ontwo revolution rear delivery presses. Heretofore in both one revolutionor two revolution presses the only delivery 'used was a ily, deliveringprinted side up but by using the transfer cylinder in advanceof printingI can use a tape delivery and deliver sheets printed side up withouttouching the printed side of sheet. l

Another desirable feature is having the register devices as parts ofguides and having the sheets -brought into contactwith.

ders in line without interference, whereas in other makes of presses thegrippers cannot be in line, and the cylinders' are provided with poststo permit clearance between the grippers` and in other presses theseposts must be adjustable for height or thickness of paper.

Another feature of the invention is using same member as' 11 to separatethe'top sheet and place sheet ontofeed board without the use of droprollers', or closing tapes. I use suction throughout. The advancingmember or feed board 5 is hinged to allow access to parts underneath. Mydesign allows access to impression cylinder for putting on makereadyetc. without having to lift the advancing mechanism or feed board, whichcannot be done'on any other machine (of the two revolution flat bedtype). I also propose tomount my rollers, vibrators, and ink fountain sothat-they can be moved laterally around a post out of the way in makmgready the forms if desired.

Another advantage is having the timing stop and suction presses setforth in original 'claims 24 to 32; nor that arrangement of impressionand transfer cylinders set forth in original claims 37 and 38; nor thatparticular arrangement of feed and delivery tables set forth in originalclaims 41 to 15 inclusive, nor the particular suction sheet device setforth inoriginal claims 17, 18 and 22; and reserve my right to filedivisional applicationson the subject matter of such Claims. i

What I claim is:

1. In a printing press of the character specified, sheet advancing meanscomprising a support, adjacent endless tapes having runs lying on thesurface of said support, said tapes being arranged close together, thespace between the tapes the support and a sheet laid on the tapesforming an air channel; and means for creating suction in said channel,whereby the sheet is held to the tapes by suction and is moved forwardby the tapes when the latter are travelled.

2. In sheet advancing mechanism as set forth in claim 1, means wherebythe channel and suction in the channel is progressively advanced as thesheet is progressively advancedk by the tapes substantially asdescribed.

3. In a printing press, having a feed table, and a, feed board, andmeans for feeding sheets from the table to the feed board; means foradvancing sheets on the feed board, comprising adjacent endless paralleltapes having runs lying on the surface of said board, said tapes beingarranged close together; the space between the tapes, board,

and a sheet laid on the tapes forming an air channel, and means forCreatin-g suction lin said channel through thefeed board when thev sheetis laid upon the tapes whereby the sheet is held to the tapes bysuction, and is lmoved forward on .the board by the tapes when thelatter are travelled.

4. In sheet advancing mechanism as set forth in claim 3 means wherebythe suction sively created as the sheet is advanced by 'the tapes,substantially as described.

5. In a printing press as set forth in claim 1, means for operatingthc'tapes intermittently, comprising an endless chain, means foroperating the tapes from said chain; a second'endless chain adjacent thefirst chain; means for continuously driving the second chain; andinterengaging pins and yokes on the chains whereby the tirst chain isintermittently driven from and by the second chain. l

6. In combination with mechanism asset forth in claim 1, means forintermittently operating the tapes synchronously with the printingmechanism and once for each printing operation of said mechanism.

7. In combination with a support adjacent, side by side tapes foradvancing sheets over the support, and means for applying suction to theunder side of the sheet in the channel formed by the space between saidtapes the sheet and the feed board.

S. In combination with a support, sets `ofv f'side by side tapes foradvancing sheets over the support, said sets of tapes being relativelyadjustable to suit different sizes of sheets, and means for creatingvsuction through the support in the' channel formed by the space betweenthe tapes in each set the sheet and the feed board to hold the sheet tothe tapes.

10. In combination with a feed board, sets of side by-side tapes foradvancing sheets over the feed board, and means for applying suction tothe bottom side of the sheet in the channels formed by the spacesbetween the tapes of each set'on the runs thereof contacting the feedboard the sheets and the feed board.

11. In combination a feed board, sets of side by side tapes foradvancing sheets over the feed board, said sets of tapes beingrelatively adjustable to suit different sizes of Sheets, and means forapplying suction to the bottom side of the sheet through the feed boardin the channels formed by the spaces between the adjacent tapes of eachset the sheets and the feed board.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affx my signature.

MICHAEL ANDREW Daorrcoun.

llQ

